Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome, a short chromosome 22, is the most frequent cytogenetic abnormality in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). It occurs in approximately 20% to 30% of adults and in about 5% of children with this disease. The incidence rises with age and occurs in approximately 50% of patients older than 50 years. This article reviews the treatment regimens for Ph+ ALL, including imatinib and second generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The introduction of effective TKIs in the treatment of Ph+ ALL has introduced several avenues of research in a disease that was hitherto difficult to treat.